Officials will open talks about a single squad representing the two nations although it remains unclear when the discussions will begin.

"There will be talks about one common team in four years time," said North Korean Olympic official Jo Sang Nam.

North and South Korea will march together at the opening ceremony for this summer's Athens Olympics.

The two teams similarly showed a united front at the opening of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

But the last time the Koreans competed as a unified side was at the world table tennis championship in 1991.